Monday, January 31, 2011

Fine Artist of the month: Nine thoughts on Mike Estabrook and his Fine Art work

This month I am starting a recurring post theme that will continue as long as needed, each month. I want to support NYC area Fine Artists. I want to help sustain their practices and build interest in their work. I will, at first, highlight the Fine Artists I have met throughout the years and worked with in Brooklyn. I may expand this to include other artists outside of the NY area, but for now these will be the parameters ( I have some other parameters that I am not explaining, right now). The format of writing for each artist will depend on the artist, and may include essays, poetry, lists, links, etc...

I start with a Fine Artist who could not be any more visually different than I am in my present work (at least on the surface).

Nine thoughts on Mike Estabrook and his Fine Art work

1. The first reaction to the work is usually: smile and laughter, and then you realize how important the Fine Art statement is.

2. He uses a lot of post-consumer cardboard in his work, which acts in two ways (both literally and conceptually): it reuses a possible toxic material that would take a few months to break down in a landfill, and it inverses the corporate by-product against social and political corporate cultures.

3. His work consists of drawings that have intimate characteristics that can not be seen from a “big picture” viewpoint. This intimacy is crucial to the prospering work. 

4. He creates fragile, ephemeral, large, robust, Hollywood-esque, Bollywood-esque, fantasy, realist, political, social, ornate, delicate, broad, hard, unique, fungible, heterosexual, homosexual, demonic, angelic, universal, local, lovely, scary, funny, sad, dramatic, comedic, jokey, serious work.

5. He does many human(itarian) acts and protests that are not seen within a Fine Art context, but are needed by more Fine Artists.

6. Mythology, Magic, Market-uprising, Message, Metaphor, and Monsters all start with the letter, “M.”

7. A Fine Artist who fully embraces the 21st century, and all of the (Fine Art) histories of all previous centuries.

8. The Welsh rock music band, Super Furry Animals, preached the long running slogan, “non-violent, direct action” I would equate his work to the music of the band, as well as to this statement; but to be more specific for both Super Furry Animals and Mike Estabrook, I would add to this: Severely non-violent, direct Psychedelic action.

9. I am not Mike Estabrook's spokesman, and neither are you.

Next week you can experience Mike's work in the 32 below group show, Brooklyn, NY
http://openingsny.com/?page_id=664

Right now you can also experience Mike's work in collaboration with Ernest ConcepciĆ³n: Shining Mantis in the The Kangarok Epic show, Champaign, IL
http://www.kam.illinois.edu/exhibitions/current/Kangarok.html

See documentation, images, etc... of his work here:
http://www.mikeestabrook.com

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Q and A about digital drawings

After all of the free give-a-ways of digital drawings, and especially after last week's give-a-way; many questions have been coming in. Some have been very philosophical, and some have been very pragmatic questions. Here are some of the answers to the questions.

What digital picture frames do you recommend? What sizes?

For the large images (1024x768) which I only started releasing last week, I recommend this15 inch digital picture frame

For the smaller images (600x400) which is the size I have been giving out more of. I recommend this 7 inch digital picture frame.

I prefer  a frame that is all black (no white border or mat). There are some that have very little frame edge or frame boundary, which are preferable to me as well. There are more expensive ones and cheaper ones out there. Of course the final decision of how to display is up to you.

What is the meaning behind the drawing? What is the inspiration for the image, etc?

My aim with my work is the same as described on my info page. The image created goes with the same meaning, energy, abstraction, etc... of the way the digital drawing exists in our world. As far as the conditions of how the drawing functions, I am further exploring the old mystic belief, "To make the mundane sacred." Here I created a digital image that can exist everywhere and nowhere, and give it a specific location and condition in which it interacts uniquely with the viewer. I am also every interested in the light that the image projects out into a room (especially in a dark, or low-lit room).

Why don't you just release these images and let them all be free and visible everywhere on the internet?

Like I said in my previous answer above, I am not really interested in this sort of visual propaganda model for my Fine Art, though many are interested making their art with these conditions and context (or no conditions or context). I wish to make intimate, unique experiences; not branded, assembly line type of Fine Art.

I really love the drawing! Where can I see more, or purchase them?

I am currently figuring out a system that would allow people to see the images over the internet with security, etc... Currently the only way is to meet up and show them in person. The site will be updated when the changes happen.

Am I allowed to copy the digital file for archival purposes?

Of course, this is your choice, but please remember not to display the image in more than on place at once. There are some fun things you can do within these conditions and parameters, but I will explain that later...

I have not answered all of your questions? Click here or email me.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Your presence/present: FREE unique, small and large digital drawing give-a-way

Tuesday, January 18th is my birthday. I wish to give, and not receive anything this year. All who contact me electronically (e-mail, Facebook, etc...) on that day and that day only, will either get a unique small digital drawing, or if you already have a small drawing you get to upgrade: I will send you a new unique large digital drawing. That's right, all who have received a small drawing will be given a new unique large drawing if you contact me on that day. All I need from you is a physical mailing address to send the physical, paper officiating letter (letter of authenticity). As always, I will never sell, give, lend that information to any entity, person, etc...

Same rules apply as before with these digital drawings.

Email me here on Tuesday, January 18th 2011 and please include your name and postal address.

Your presence is the greatest present I could ever receive.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

32 Below group show: Greenpoint, Brooklyn - Friday, February 11th 2011 - part 1

I was invited to take part in 32 Below group show which includes great Fine Artists like Mike Estabrook, Brian Higbee and many others.

Here is some info on the show:

Opening Reception:
February 11th 2011 (Friday)
7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.

Exhibition info:
Monday through Friday 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Location: St. Cecilia’s Gallery
21 Monitor Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

I was given two closets that are across from each other. Here are some pre-installation images. Then a final post that shows documentation of the installation.








Monday, January 3, 2011

Apartment Drafting: S.oothes U.s N.eedlessly and L.eaves E.verything D.elicious

On (Gregorian) New Years Eve, I was a participant in the yearly group art show: Apartment Drafting, organized and hosted by Veronika Sweet in New York City. Had a great time and met some really great people. I showed the last work I created in 2010. Here is some documentation of the work I showed:


























S.oothes U.s N.eedlessly and L.eaves E.verything D.elicious, 2010
LED lights**, recycled cardboard, rechargeable batteries*, solar panels*, and household paint can for travel/storage of the installation.